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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 26, 2016)
FEATURES THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 Groom’s mom a problem Dear Annie: My iance, “Kyle,” and I are supposed to get married in three weeks, and the venue — his mother’s house — is falling through. Kyle and I are on a budget and were engaged for a year trying to save up enough to even begin planning our wedding. Then Kyle’s mother gra- ciously offered to lend us her house for the event. It’s a big old place with a lovely backyard. We thought it would be perfect. We picked out food options (with my aunt and cousins as the cater- ing team), took care of the DJ (we put together a massive playlist of all our favorite songs) and sent out invi- tations (which our graphic-designer friend made). It was shaping up to be our dream wedding, even on a mod- est budget — that is, until a week ago, when my soon-to-be mother-in-law went into meltdown mode. She’s stressing out majorly, saying it isn’t fair for us to put so much pres- sure on her. The thing is, I’m not even sure what she’s talking about. Kyle and my bridesmaids and I have taken care of all the big items on the to-do list. And we’re really laid-back peo- ple, so even if something were to go wrong or be missing, we wouldn’t get angry. We just want to get married. Unfortunately, she’s blown every- Dear Annie By Annie Lane Creators Syndicate Inc. thing out of proportion and, just to make things worse, dug up old family drama. She and Kyle got into a huge argument about a week ago and hav- en’t spoken since. What should we do? Postpone the wedding? Look for another venue? Sedate her? — Bride- to-Be or -Not-to-Be Dear Bride: Put away the tran- quilizers. With some luck, words will be enough to calm the mother of the groom down. Weddings can be a sensitive time for all involved, illed with excite- ment and nerves. Marriage is a huge milestone and signals major change. Kyle’s mom is probably feeling a mix of competing emotions. She’s happy that her son has found in you a life partner, but she’s also probably deal- ing with the fact that she will no lon- ger be the main woman in his life. She could be taking out her anxiety on something she can control — namely, the venue. Be patient with her. The fact that she was so excited to lend you her house to begin with leads me to believe that she can be persuaded. You and your husband-to-be just need to assure her in every way pos- sible that everything will be handled by the two of you; her only duty is to be there. Dear Annie: As a newly sin- gle woman who has been staying in motels alone for the irst time in my life, I have realized that I am com- pletely ignorant about at least one subject. I have no idea how much tip you are supposed to leave for the maid. Some motels leave an enve- lope for this purpose. I usually end up leaving all the cash I have, but I don’t know whether that is too much or that is too little. What is the right amount? — Uninformed Dear Uninformed: The Amer- ican Hotel & Lodging Association recommends tipping housekeepers $1 to $5 per night, leaving cash in a marked envelope or with a note. Visit the AHLA website for a handy gratu- ity guide, which includes suggested tips for shuttle drivers, concierges and other hotel staff. FRANK AND ERNEST BLONDIE THATABABY SALLY FORTH PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN B.C. LOLA DILBERT SIX CHIX BIZARRO MUTTS NON SEQUITUR BABY BLUES WIZARD OF ID ZITS ROSE IS ROSE 5A Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Are you going to do what you said you would do? That’s all they care about today. Hopefully, you underestimated what you would do, and the delivery will be over your promise. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You might be very bored with what’s going on today, and that’s really just a challenge to look a little deeper. There’s always a pretty thing to be admired, a problem to be solved. There’s always a day to be made. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When you don’t exactly know how to manage what’s going on down low, look up high. Is there a higher thought that resonates with you? A guide, a cloud formation, a sky that speaks to you? CANCER (June 22-July 22). Small thinkers will go disguised as “reasonable” people. They may tell you about limits that are true for them, but that does not mean that the same rules apply to you. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The market is calling you. You’ve something to sell, and they definitely want it. How will you po- sition this? Knowable, likeable, trustable: You’re all these things. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Something you set up one way will end up another. There is nothing reasonable you can do about this. Settle in. That is just another way of saying, “Chill.” It’s going to work when you calm down. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). “With liberty and justice for all”: Well, that’s a big state- ment with a big meaning. Your sign of balance and fairness, you really get that, live it and mean it. What are you going to do about it today? SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your plans are solid, meaning that nothing has been left to chance — but chance doesn’t like that at all. This is the time she will reb- el, elbowing her way into the equation. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The dynamic between two people is compel- ling. Fake or real — it depends a lot on the medium. Of the ones you observe now, you’re wise to be a little skeptical. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There is safety in being shy. If you feel like hid- ing, it’s a signal that you will benefit by doing the opposite. Take one step for- ward. Put yourself out there, even if it feels foolish. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You sought a position in the middle because you thought it would be logical and eas- ier, but it wasn’t. There is no middle. It’s always the start of something or the end of something. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Life is an experiment. No one ever really knows how a choice will turn out; they just get adept at playing their odds. And the only way to do that is by building experiences — choosing and then choosing again. TUESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 27). You can’t help who you are. That’s the sad way to look at it. Who you are is a gift. That’s the happy way. This is your year to start making good on all those things you thought were “different” or “flawed,” because it turns out that those are your assets. Lean into it. December and June will be your best months financially. Libra and Your lucky numbers are: 30, 1, 11, 13, 29 and 4.
